Fry continued: "I think it's fundamentally because I love film so much.

"Film is one of the arts that most spreads the essence of our identity around the world, and our admiration and appreciation of global film-making ensures that the EE British Academy Film Awards sit comfortably on the world stage of film awards events honoring the best of the best."

The EE British Academy Film Awards takes place on February 16, 2014 and will be broadcast in the UK on BBC One.